Wattisfield URC Harvest Celebrations 2017

Wattisfield URC Harvest Celebrations Raise Funds for LINC

Wattisfield URC has raised nearly £500 for a Leukaemia charity as a thank you for the help that has been received by one family in the village. Through an auction selling off the Harvest produce, and through regular fundraising at their monthly Lunch Club a total of £434 has been raised for LINC (The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund) based in Cheltenham.

Earlier this year, a friend of the church and a resident in the village received news that her daughter had been diagnosed with Leukaemia. Receiving treatment at Cheltenham General Hospital meant that life has been put on hold for members of the family, and it is with the help of LINC that they have received support throughout this time. LINC helps a huge variety of patients when they need it the most. In one of the wards at Cheltenham General Hospital, LINC funds all the extra things that help to improve care and make a stay in hospital slightly more comfortable. But through LINC patients have access to a clinical psychologist that can provide some help in coming to terms with illness and the impact on patients and their families. They also provide financial help and supportto those patients who are in difficulty as a result of their illness.

The minister, Rev Julian Sanders, says “The church may be a small rural congregation but they are still able to make a big impact on peoples lives. The church is always raising money for charities through its lunch clubs, guest speaker services and folk concerts and we always try to find charities that have a local or personal connection. LINC is really important in supporting families whose lives are disrupted through receiving the medical attention necessary. We hope our prayers go some way to supporting the family in this time of need, but we are really pleased that through our Harvest Festival we are able to support the practical help too.”